CHM - ORTAccelerate the deployment of a sustainable and circular European bioeconomy and ensure that any taking in the wild of specimens of listed species of wild fauna and flora as well as their exploitation is compatible with their being maintained at a favourable conservation status and that the hunting of birds complies with the principles of wise use and ecologically balanced control of the species concerned.
Main legislation in place:
The Habitats Directive, notably Article 14, requires Member States to take measures to ensure that the taking in the wild of specimens of species of wild fauna and flora listed in Annex V as well as their exploitation is compatible with their being maintained at a favourable conservation status. Surveillance may include application, when specimens are taken, of hunting and fishing rules which take account of the conservation of such populations.
The Birds Directive, notably Article 7, requires Member States to ensure that the practice of hunting complies with the principles of wise use and ecologically balanced control of the species of birds listed in Annex II.
The Trade in Seal Products Basic Regulation prohibits the placing of seal products on the EU market, with an exception concerning seal products made by Inuit or other indigenous communities.
The Seal Pups Directive requires Member States to take measures to ensure that the skin of certain seal pups and products derived therefrom are not commercially imported.
The Environmental Crime Directive requires Member States to ensure that the killing, destruction, taking of, possession, sale or offering for sale of a specimen or specimens of a species of wild fauna or flora, as well as the trading in specimens of protected wild fauna or flora species or parts or derivatives thereof constitutes a criminal offence. It also establishes minimum rules concerning the applicable criminal sanctions.
The Common Fisheries Policy aims to ensure that i) fishing and aquaculture activities are environmentally sustainable in the long term and providing socio-economic benefits, ii) exploitation of living marine biological resources restores and maintains populations of harvested species above levels which can produce the maximum sustainable yield, and iii) negative impacts of fishing activities on the marine ecosystem are minimised. For further details, see the EU contribution on sustainable fisheries.
Legislation proposed:
N/A
Other policy instruments:
The Sustainable Bioeconomy Strategy and its Bioeconomy Action Plan aim to strengthen and scale up the bio-based sectors, unlock investment and markets, deploy local bioeconomies rapidly across the EU and understand the ecological boundaries of the bioeconomy.
Guide to sustainable hunting under the Birds Directive, see also webpage.
Task Force on the Recovery of Huntable birds in unsecure status and an ongoing test case for Turtle Dove. See Circabc webpage.
The EU objectives for biodiversity outcomes specified in, inter alia, the Birds and Habitats Directives, the Marine Strategic Framework Directive, the Water Framework Directive, the Nature Restoration Law, the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 and the Marine Action Plan also imply the need for ensuring that any use of wild species is sustainable.
| Objectifs mondiaux | Degré d’alignement |
GBF-T05. GBF-T05.Assurer une utilisation, des prélèvements et un commerce durables, sûrs et légaux des espèces sauvages, en évitant la surexploitation, en minimisant les incidences sur les espèces et les écosystèmes non visés et en réduisant le risque de propagation des agents pathogènes, conformément à l'approche écosystémique, tout en respectant et en protégeant les pratiques traditionnelles des peuples autochtones et des communautés locales en matière d'utilisation durable. | Élevé |
GBF-T09. GBF-T09.Garantir une gestion et une utilisation durables des espèces sauvages, de façon à procurer des avantages sociaux, économiques et environnementaux aux populations, en particulier aux populations vulnérables et à celles qui dépendent le plus de la biodiversité, notamment grâce à des activités, des produits et des services durables liés à la biodiversité qui contribuent à son amélioration, et protéger et promouvoir les pratiques traditionnelles d'utilisation durable des peuples autochtones et des communautés locales. | Élevé |
This EU contribution aligns with GBF Targets 5 and 9, as regards the sustainable management of wild species.
Species (marine biological resources), their conservation, and the sustainable management of EU fleets exploiting these stocks covered by the EU Common Fisheries Policy are further addressed by the EU contribution on the sustainable management of areas under fisheries.
For financing and capacity-building, please refer to the EU contributions to Targets 19 and 20.